Ocean Life...

Hello friends...

As another week flies by, it's time for a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and this week our theme is called ~ DISTRESS IT! There are so many ways you could interpret this theme from distressing the edges of paper to create shabby chic or vintage style projects or maybe you might choose to use Tim Holtz Distress products ~ the choice is entirely up to you and we can't wait to see what you'll create and how you'll play along with this week's challenge!

For my project, I chose to use quite a few of Tim's Distress products ~ paints, crayons, stains and marker pens ~ to create my Etcetera tag all about ocean life! I also distressed the edges of my tag using a sanding tool and added layers of birch wood covered in sand for yet another layer of distress...so, to find out which products I used, then grab a coffee and hope you enjoy today's post!

 

To begin with I added a layer of gesso to the surface of the small Etcetera tag and allowed that to dry before adding my layers of colour to create the background. Using Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon and Twisted Citron Distress Paints ~ I added the paint directly onto the tag, blending them together with a semi dry wet wipe. Heat dry the surface and then using an old credit card, I applied a very small amount of gesso over the top, scraping the medium down with the card but allowing the beautiful blue to still show through over the majority of the surface. I also used my finger to apply a small amount of Metallique White Pearl paint which creates a gorgeous shimmer. Once I was happy with the colour, I heat dried the surface thoroughly before adding some texture! For this I applied Grit Paste through the Speckles Layering Stencil. Let the paste dry before accentuating the raised surface by dry brushing a small amount of gold paint over the top.

I sanded the edges of the tag using a sanding tool and then ran the Ground Espresso Distress Crayon around the outside, blending the colour with my finger. I also used some of the Rich Copper Alchemy Wax to highlight the edges.

To complete the background, I inked up the Ledger and Number stamp from the Etcetera set and stamped randomly onto the background, focusing mainly on the central section where I will be building up my layers and then flicked some of the gold paint and Black Soot Distress Paint over the surface.

For the reinforcer ring at the top of the tag, I painted this with a combination of Gold Rush and Steampunk Copper Alchemy Paints before attaching it to the tag. I then ran the Black Soot Distress Crayon over the top and blended the crayon into the paint before adding some more of the combination of paints and crayon around the outside of the ring to create a rusty look.

I now have my basic surface to start building upon and began by adding some fisherman's rope (you can just see it poking out from beneath the layers) that I had in my stash and attached it to the tag using Collage Medium. When the rope is secured into place, I then mixed some Art Stones of all sizes into 3D Matte Gel and applied this around the outsides of the rope and onto the background. Allow to dry before painting the stones with gold paint and a highlight of the Metallique White Pearl paint.

For the next layer, I used some cheesecloth, dyed with a combination of Cracked Pistachio and Tumbled Glass Distress Spray Stains. Lay the cloth down over the rope and secure into place with the Collage Medium. 

Next layer was all about the 'distressed' wood and for this I used broken pieces of birch bark and layered them over the top of one another before applying some more of the Art Stones around the outside edges. Again, I painted the dried stones with a combination of gold and white paints.

Next layer: I added a map which was distressed around the edges with the paper distresser and some Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Next layer: Some more of the cheesecloth, this time dyed with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain.

Next layer: I inked up the octopus stamp from Tim's Sea Life Stamp set and stamped this onto Distress card. I then watercoloured it with Distress Marker Pens before fussy cutting it out and adding it to my layers using foam pads to add some height.

I also attached a quote chip which was distressed with the sanding tool and then inked with Walnut Stain Ink to create a more worn, aged look.

I attached some Melange Pebbles around the focal point, securing them with collage medium and painting them with Metallique Mermaid Teal Paint. To add a little more highlight over the top, I used my finger to smear some of the White Pearl paint. I also added some sprocket gears around the central arrangement.

Finally, I plaited some twine to create my rope and threaded it through the hole, securing it with a knot...

...and added a couple of Remnant Rubs to the mix and the Traveller Ephemera Snippet piece to the side of the tag.

As always, if you do need any further inspiration, then look no further than our blog to see all the wonderful creations from all the very talented Design Team members and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Thank you so much for stopping by today and see you again very soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Etcetera Tag
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Stamps: Etcetera, Sea Life

Distress Paints: Black Soot, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon
Distress Spray Stains: Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio, Antique Linen
Distress Marker Pens
Distress Ink: Walnut Stain
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil: Speckles
Distress Crayons: Set 3, Ground Espresso
Tim Holtz idea-ology: Quote Chips, Snippets, Sprocket Gears, Special Delivery Remnant Rubs
Mediums: Collage Medium, Grit Paste, Jet Black Archival Ink, Gesso, 3D Matte Gel
Prima Marketing Acrylic Paints: Gold Rush, Steampunk Copper, White Pearl, Mermaid Teal

Rich Copper Alchemy Wax
Art Stones, Mini Art Stones, Mega Art Stones
Ranger Craft Sheet
Paper Distresser
Sanding Tool

Big Shot

Heat Gun
Sisal fibres, fisherman's rope, birch bark, twine, cheesecloth from my own stash